Crate



Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANCIS V. IBIRBECK, F AROMAS,CALIFORNIA CRATE i Application med January 21, naso.k .serial No.422336. i

l/This invention relates particularly to a crate for packing lettuce orsimilar produce.

It is one object of the invention to provide a crate that will permitfree ventilation at all times, and yet will be rigid in construction,

light, strong, and durable. t

Itis another object of the invention to provide a crate of the characterindicated that will be economical to manufacture, quickly and easilyassembled, of few parts, and high-V ly elicient in its practicalapplication.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a crate embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the crate shown in Figure 1 with the side,bottom, and end sections separated.

In my improved crate the two s1de sections are identical in form andconstruction and therefore aV detailed description of one appliesequally as well to the other, and the same is true of the two endsections.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the bottom sectioncomprises the two end bars 1 and 2, somewhat shorter than the finishedwidth of the crate, and upon these are nailed the bottom slats 3 inspaced relation to each other as shown. On the ends of the slats 3 arenailed cleats as 4 and 5 in 3 parallel relation with the bars 1 and 2and aligning with the ends of the slats 3. This bottom section iscomplete in itself and forms one unit of the crate.

Each side section comprises two end bars 6 and 7 equal in length to theheight of the finished crate less the thickness of the bottom slats 3and cleats 1--5. These bars are rabbeted at both ends and on the same orinner side as at 8 and 9, and on the sides opposite to the rabbets aremounted spaced slats 10, the slats 10 being equal in length to slats 3and determining the length of the crate. On the ends of the slats 10 arenailed cleats 11 and 12 in parallel relation to bars 6 and 7 andaligning with the ends of slats 10.

Each end section comprises a top bar 13 equal in length to bars 1 and 2and having slats as 14.-15-16 mounted on one side thereof in spacedrelation to each other and at right angles to the said bar, the two endslats 14 and 16 extending a distance beyond the ends of the bar asshown.

It will be noted that in this construction but` three Adistinct unitsare required, and these units are so constructed thatthey may be made upcheaply andin lar e quantities by machine and assembled as ereinafterset forth.

In assembling the crate it is only` necessary I. to placethe sidesections in position with the t 260 rabbets Sengaging the endsof thebottom bars 1 and 2 and secure by suitable nailing. The end sections maythen be dropped into position with the top bars 13 seated in rabbets 9and the slats 14-15-16 overlapping the end bars ofthe side sections andthe end bars of the bottom section to which they are securely nailed.

By means of this construction the several sections may be machine madeand the assembling may be eected by unskilled labor thereby considerablyreducing the cost of the finished product and at the same time insuringproper spacing of the slats.

Another advantage of this construction is that the cleats 4 5, 11-12 notonly complete their respective sections and render them rigid and strongbut they also serve to space the adjoining crates when loaded in a car,thereby permitting free ventilation on all sides. Y

Still another advantage of this construction is that the end sectionsmay be simply made and of few parts, and yet they serve to eectually tiethe bottom and side sections together into one rigid whole.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I herein show and describebut one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in `form,construction, and method of assembly may be made within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A crate comprising, a bottom section including a plurality of slatshaving end bars mounted thereon and end cleats mounted thereon oppositethe bars, two side sections. each section including a plurality of slatshaving end bars mounted thereon and end cleats mounted thereon oppositethe bars,

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the end bars of the side sections being mounted upon and secured to theends of the end bars of the bottom section, and a pair of end sectionsincluding top bars mounted upon the upper ends' of the end bars of theside sections and slats overlapping and secured to the end bars of thebottom and side secn tion.

2. Av crate comprising, a bottom ,SectionA including a plurality ofslats having end bars mounted thereon, two side sections, each f sectionincluding a plurality of slats having end bars mounted thereon, each endbar having a rabbet formed on one end to seat upon one end of one of thebottom end bars`V whereby to lie in the same plane therewith with theslats 'disposed outwardly of the crate, and a pair of end sections',each end section comprising a top bar having` a plu- 2Q1irality of slatsmounted thereon adapted to overlie the inner sides vof the adjacent endbar of the bottom section and end bars of the side sections, the upperends of the end bars of the vside sections having rabbets 2559formedtherein to receive the ends of the top bars.` A f FRANCIS V. BIRBECK.

